Page 86 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

86 | FRANCESCA PE NN

The bus stops, and people start to filter off. I lace my fingers in hers and guide
her off the bus. After flashing our IDs and getting wristbands, we head to the VIP
lounge in the club. The setup is much like the party bus; plush couches face each
other but with a greater distance between. A few two-feet tall stages with poles are
between the couches. Each area is sectioned off by the tables holding the alcohol

from the bottle service.
Teo drops onto a couch and pulls Lizzie into his lap for an over-thetop kiss.
Tala tells them to get a room before she settles in like a princess. The bride sash and
tiara are perfectly in place over her white dress. Her fiancé kisses her hand then
leaves to make her a drink.
I sit at the end of one of the still empty sofas and splay my arms across the back.
Sanya settles against my side and leans into me much like she had done on the bus.
I can’t complain. I wrap my arm around her. I like having her on me. She lays her
head on my chest and listens to the music while she sips her drink.
I enjoy snuggling up with her as much as I can. I know it is a matter of time
before the right song comes on. The group of women next to us are loud and
rowdy. Sanya and I laugh at a few of their antics. They all take turns doing their
own dances on their pole while ours remain woefully untouched.

Everything changes about an hour after entering the VIP lounge. I know the
exact moment Sanya is about to give me a glimpse of her past. I recognize the beat
to “Wild Thoughts” immediately and look down at her. She perks up and starts
grooving sexily in the seat. She looks at me when the words kick in and begins to
sing Rihanna’s part.
She pushes part of her cardigan off her shoulder when she sings about being
naked. She continues to look at me as she sings the sexually suggestive lyrics. She holds
up her drink. I laugh because she is drinking brown liquor – Crown Apple with
Sprite.
I know she loves this song. She turns it up every time it comes on in the car.
She hands me her drink once the guitar filters in; she is up and gyrating, her
arms up and hands in her hair. Everyone looks because she is the only one in our
group dancing. She slips off her cardigan and throws it onto the couch.
Sanya steps on the little stage and grabs the pole. I lean forward. This is getting
good. She points at me when the second verse starts then opens her legs and touches
herself as she dips low. I’m pretty sure my mind just melted. She was not kidding